Blood bank staffers on stir; thalassemics suffer

Bhubaneswar: Blood transfusion facility at several hospitals across the state has already taken a beating as blood bank officials, technicians and other support officials are on an indefinite strike at Lower PMG here for the three days.

According to a release issued by Nirakar Panda, secretary of Thalassemia Care Society (TCSO), an association of parents of affected children, the staffers of all the Odisha Blood Banks have participated in the agitation which has severely affected the blood services to the needy patients.

Thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia patients are the worst-hit as they need regular and repeated blood transfusion for their survival.

While some patients need monthly blood transfusion, some need it fortnightly and some others in 10 days and even in a week. “Blood transfusion facility will be paralyzed and the lives of patients will be put to danger if the strike continues for some more days,” said Panda.

He also blamed the state government to immediately take steps in fulfilling the demands of the blood bank officials and other staffers. President of All Odisha Blood Bank Employees’ Association Anil Kumar Mohanty and its secretary Ramani Ranjan Gadanayak also supported the cause of TCSO.

Notably, the All Odisha Blood Bank Employees’ Association has been demanding regularization of employees who have served for more than 10-15 years and salary at par with those working in similar profession among others.